Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant is entering the final season of his current contract, but the former NBA MVP is still eligible for a two-year extension with his new team.
Both sides hope to reach an agreement before the 2025-26 season.
Kevin Durant, Rockets maintain constant communication
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that representatives for Houston and Durant are in “constant communication,” adding that “there is optimism that a deal can be completed before the start of the regular season.”
If this is the plan, the Rockets are running out of time. Their first game of the 2025-26 season is less than two weeks away, on Oct. 21 against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shams on Kevin Durant’s future in Houston:
“I’m hearing people are optimistic about getting the deal done before the regular season starts.” pic.twitter.com/j9mvW68STS
– Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) October 8, 2025
Charania’s latest news comes after NBA insider Jack Fisher reported on Sunday that Houston expects to reach an extension with Tari Eason before dealing Durant.
Fisher noted that Houston “wonders to see how things go with Eason to an extension” before locking up the 15-time All-Star, but said signing Durant first “isn’t really a problem.”
Eason is eligible for a rookie contract extension through October 21st.
Houston unlikely to offer max contract extension
What’s more, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported in August that if Houston re-signs Durant this offseason, it likely won’t be a two-year, $122 million max extension.
“The Rockets are not going to go all-in, from all the looks and everything I’m hearing, they’re not going to go all-in on re-signing Kevin Durant,” McMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast.
“Now, that doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen, but there are rumors that Durant isn’t going to push for the full max. I don’t know that the Rockets are going to put anything close to the max on the table. I think the Rockets — like it’s not ideal — but I don’t think they’re going to panic if they go into the season with Kevin Durant on an expiring contract.”
On July 6, Houston acquired Durant from the Phoenix Suns as part of a historic seven-team trade and sent a package headed by Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in exchange.
Durant, who turned 37 last month, is expected to earn $54.7 million in the 2025-26 season, the final season of a $194.21 million four-year contract he signed in 2021 as a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
Last season, Durant played 62 games with the Suns (all starts), averaging 36.5 minutes per game, scoring 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks, shooting 52.7% from the field and 43% from three-point range.
The future Hall of Famer is entering his 18th season.
